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Finally made it to Amritsar after 2 failed attempts at getting the 4am bus the past two weekends. It was difficult. It was raining and I really didn't want to put my rainmac on that makes me look like a geek PLUS the bright yellow rain protector for my backpack.
5 hours later we arrived into Amritsar with a fellow traveller heading to the same free accommodation. 10 rupees is the normal charge for a cycle rickshaw from the bus station to the Golden Temple. Our Hindi lessons came in useful when I made double sure that was the cost. Cheeky b***** wanted 20 by the time we arrived. We gathered quite a crowd and a nice man told us to walk away and stood arguing with the man. Free (mice-infested) dorm at Golden Temple plus free meals at within the complex itself. Very good wee trip - brilliant to be away from McLeod as it was getting us both down. Probably because we hadn't taken the psychotherapy course on offer there (both eastern and western perspectives!).
In addition to the brilliant Golden Temple complex, there is the Memorial Park nearby which commemorates the Indians shot and wounded by the British during a peaceful protest. There is a gallery dedicated to the Indian martyrs who fought for justice and independence - a good bit of propaganda.
Which is exactly what the border crossing ceremony is an hour away from Amritsar. The Indian-Pakistan border has a looonnnnggg show every morning and evening to whip the crowds into a frenzy. Volunteers push and shove each other to hold the Indian flag and charge the gates separating the two countries. The kids see it as a bit of fun but the old people take it very seriously. The tourists get to sit in the VIP area which made me feel uncomfortable (a VIP in Les Gets maybe, but not here). The singing and dancing made me feel a bit nervous as both sides of the border tried to out-shout the other side. Not a clue what they were chanting but from the 8 year-olds to the 80 year-olds there was a definite oomph behind it. If the crowds wanted to rush the gates the guards couldn't have stopped them. There were 200+ Indians and about 50 'VIPs'.
Our South African friend left early the next day for Delhi and we pottered around hiding from boys with their video phones who sneakily try and "snap" us. Chandigarh is the next stop where we'll be for three nights before the mega train ride to Kolkata.
Have put only a couple of India pics online as they were already uploaded on Nat's page. Funny thing though... saved them into the My Pictures folder on this computer which, when I opened the folder back up, is FULL of porn. History on internet also full of porn sites - not so comfortable about sitting on this chair now...
Note for the Glasgow girls:
Thanks for birthday messages - hope all settled into new flats. I'll send a postcard for your kitchens. xxx
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